About ESG
Fay Feeney, CSP, ARM
Phone: (310) 372-0591
Fax: (310) 372-0582
fay@123safety.com
Envision Strategic Group is an advisory firm established to bring a unique combination of risk management & safety, health & environmental expertise to executives and their boards. Executives wanting to enhance their operational excellence and actively manage their business risk have a resource to assist them in this effort. Clients have included Comcast Entertainment Group, the Screen Actors Guild Producers Pension and Health Plan, Kingston Technology, THQ Inc., NipponKoa Insurance Co. and Disneyland Resort.
Ms. Feeney is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and has a an Associated in Risk Management (ARM). After eleven years of practice, Feeney has continued to ask herself: What’s next? The next logical step for her was helping business improve their management of risk and aligning business strategy.
One risk on the horizon is Corporate Social Responsiblity and sustainability, which, as Feeney defines it, is “economic development that takes full account of the environmental consequences of economic activity and is based on the use of resources that can be replaced or renewed and therefore are not depleted.”
Advising business how it can improve governance, profitability and brand reputation is a core competency. “The trend [for business] is toward greening,” says Feeney, “And our environmental health and safety experience is an appropriate expertise to bring to that discussion.”
These emerging risk are managed when executives “start at the top to improve the bottom line,” she says. Just as with the best safety management programs, culture change has to be championed by executive management. Tone at the top is needed to build the successful business culture for the 21st century.
Some companies have been profiting from these trends. They have firmly established policies. At GE, for example, its part of their business strategy, while at the vast majority of companies, there is a ‘wait and see’ attitude.”
Many companies use a great safety record and program to attract employees. “There is not a college campus that isn’t using environmental policies to attract students,” says Feeney. “Greening, like safety, is seen as something that is good and good for you.” In addition, she says, “Greening has positive opportunities to reduce costs [and] improve your work environments by improving lighting, air quality and comfort. These will help you attract and retain talent in the 21st century marketplace.” Sounds like it has a lot in common with a good safety program, Feeney points out.
Managers, she says, are beginning to think about greening in business terms: Will they be at a competitive disadvantage if they don’t do it?
Without a business strategy that incorporates risk management you will be at a competitive disadvantage,” she cautions, adding, “Don’t be left behind.”
